IBD vs SPY
Inspire Corporate Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IBD or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | IBD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.41% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $503M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.39% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 501 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -1.39% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.71% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.04% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.93% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.0%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.3%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,474 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Inspire ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 10, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 11, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.3 years).
IBD vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
IBD vs SPY Performance
Inspire Corporate Bond ETF (IBD) is an ETF from Inspire ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IBD returned -0.71% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, IBD is down 1.39% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, IBD compounded at +5.04% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.93% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.24% annualized vs +1.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 5.0% for IBD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -16.3% for IBD and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBD charges 0.41% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $41 vs $9 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBD currently yields 4.39% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of SPY's money is in holdings IBD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for IBD, our book for it covers 92.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 220 positions we hold weights for in IBD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 501 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IBD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEGeneral Electric Co 6.75% 03/15/2032 | 0.21% | 0.50% | 0.29% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IBD and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IBD or SPY?
IBD has an expense ratio of 0.41% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBD or SPY?
Over the past year IBD returned -0.71% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), IBD annualized +1.00% vs +14.24% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 5.0% for IBD. Worst drawdown: IBD -16.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IBD and SPY?
IBD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IBD or SPY?
IBD yields 4.39% while SPY yields 0.99%, so IBD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IBD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.